IDES Handling Unprecedented Number of Unemployment Claims

More than 100,000 people in Illinois lost their jobs last week and now those folks are trying to apply for unemployment benefits. But the state’s online application system is buckling under the weight of the flood of applications.

Governor JB Pritzker says he knows the process has been slow for many and he is talking to the state’s IT department, DO IT, daily to get the problem fixed. Pritzker said Friday "It’s far from perfect right now, but it is getting better. “There is still more to do, they are still working on it.  I literally spoke to our chief information officer for the state this morning, I called him at 8:30 and woke him up since he went to bed at 4 a.m. We are going to get this right and make sure everyone can file for unemployment claims and sped up the process for people to receive those claims as well.”

17,000 people were able to apply for unemployment benefits on Thursday. To help handle the overload you are asked to follow the following schedule for filing: 

Online Filing Schedule:

• Those with last names beginning with letters A-M will be asked to file their claims on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays
• Those with last names beginning with letters N-Z will be asked to file their claims on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
• Saturdays will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file during their allotted window

Call Center Filing Schedule:

• Those with last names beginning with letters A-M will be asked to call on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30 am – 6 pm
• Those with last names beginning with letters N-Z will be asked to call on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7:30 am – 6 pm
• Fridays (7:30 am – 6 pm) will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file during their allotted window.

Those with questions or in need of assistance with unemployment benefit at this time are encouraged to visit IDES.Illinois.gov